Silencer for flushing tanks



Nov. 14, 1939. f Y G. H. MYRlcK l 2,180,310

' v SILENCER' FORl FLUsHiNG TANKS y original Filed AggQ 7, 1935 @a/animo.- l

Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFlc-E A direct and mesne Kolehmainen,

assignments, to Waino M. Evanston, Ill,

Application August 7, 1935, Serial No. 35,070

Renewed February 1, 1939 11 Claims.

This invention relates generally to ushing tanks, and has more particular reference to a silencer for minimizing the disagreeable noises attending the supplying of water to a ushing r. tank during the ushing and relling operations. An object of the invention is the provision of a novel and an improved silencer for flushing tanks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a I flushing tank with a silencer so constructed and arranged as to retard the flow of water, to relieve the water pressure, and to spread the water before it is discharged from the silencer, whereby to minimize no ises usually accompanying refilling l operations. L

A further object ofthe invention is the provision of a flushing tank with a silencer which spreads the water as it is discharged therefrom, and which cooperates with a ushing tank member for substantially silently discharging Water supplied to the silencer from the supply line.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a ushing tank of silencer means for converting a stream of Water substantially into a sheet or lm of water, and for conducting the sheet of water into the tank.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of silencer means in a ushing tank for preventing Water from the tank feeding back into the water supply system due to low pressure conditions, which sometimes occur in water supply systems when other. xtures connected thereto are operated, and the provision of the novel combinations and arrangements of elements as hereinafter described and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is an elevational View, partially in cross section, of a flushing tank equipped with a silencer embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the novel silencer, and a fragmentary cross section of the flushing tank supply line, and shows the silencer connected thereto;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the lines 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing a suitable attaching means for assembling the silencer in the tank;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken substantially along the lines 4 4 of Fig. 2, showing the details of a suitable connection between the supply line and the silencer.

Illustrative of the invention, a conventional ushing tank is shown in Fig. 1 with ausual (Cl. 13T-21) water supply pipe I I, a water supply control valve I2, water level responsive means I3 for operating the valve I2, a discharge or flushing valve I4 in a discharge pipe I5, suitable means I6 for operating the discharge valve I4, and an overilow 5 pipe I1.

The water supply pipe I! is connectible with a usual water supply source (not shown) and for that purpose is provided with a. coupling connector I8 communicating with the supply line and 10 extending through and sealing an aperture I9 in a wall 2I of the ilushing tank. Likewise, the discharge pipe I5 extends through and seals an aperture 22 in the wall 2| for facilitating the connection of the tank with the apparatus to be 15 flushed, or to be supplied with water from the tank.

In the flushing operation, the discharge valve I4 is opened by the operation of the valve operating means I6 suitably connected thereto by con- 20 nector means 23, and is held open by, foi' example, float operated cam means 24, while the water in the tank is being discharged through .the discharge valve I4 and the discharge pipe I5. As the Water is discharged from the tank, the water 25 level responsive means I3 falls with the water level in the tank and gradually opens the supply control valve I2 for reiilling the tank. When the flushing is completed, the oat operated cam means 24 permits the valve I4 to close. At that 30 time, the water level responsive means I3 has fully opened the supply control valve I2 and the water level in the tank begins torise, causing the float operated cam means 24 to urge the valve I4 to its fully closed position. As the water level in 35 the tank continuesrising, it will raise the water level responsive means I3 which gradually closes the supply control valve I2.

An object of the invention is to provide a silencer'so constructed and arranged as to retard the flow of water, to relieve the water pressure, and to spread the Water before it is discharged from the silencer, whereby to minimize noises usually accompanying the refilling of a ushing tank. To that end the supply control 45 valve I2 is provided with a casing 25 having a valve chamber 26 therein communicating with the supply pipe I I when the control valve is open.

and communicating with an outlet chamber 21 v in a laterally extending portion 28 of the casing 50 25. That laterally extending casing portion 28 has on outlet aperture 29 communicating with the outlet chamber 21, whereby water supplied to the ,outlet chamber from the supply pipe II by way of thevalve chamber 26 may pass through the 65 outlet aperture a ad into a. novel silencer generally indicated by the reference character 3| for relllng the tank. p

The novel silencer '3| comprises an elongated cowl or casing 32 open at one side and formed preferably of metal, with a longitudinal edge 33, and its opposite marginal portion 34 in substantially the same plane. Intermediate the edge 33 and the portion 34.' thezcowl 32 is formed'with a. l

portion 35 of arcuate transverse section extendlng longitudinally of the cowl adjacent the longi-A tudinal edge 33 and an inclined wall portion 36 connecting the marginal portion 34 and the arcuate portion 35. The' cowl 32 is adapted to carry in the arcuate portion 35 water spreading and spraying means illustrated asa hollow tube 31 having a plurality of perforations 31' in the walls thereof, and secured at one end in an end Wall 38 of the cowl 32 and at its other end on a pressure reducing fitting 39. At the end wall 38, the hollow tube 36 is provided with a closure member 4| which is removable to facilitate cleaning the tube when desired.

The pressure reducing fitting 39 is preferably tubular and frusta-conical in shape, and is provided with a large end 42 communicating with the perforated tube 31 and a smaller closed end 43. Adjacent the smaller end of the fitting 39, an inlet pipe or connector 44 is connected for communication with the fitting at an angle thereto and communicates at its other end with the outlet chamber 21. To secure the pipe 44 in communication with the outlet chamber 21, a union or coupling fitting 45 is threaded as shown in Fig. 4 at one end, into the outlet aperture 29, and is provided with external threads 46 at-its other end for cooperation with internal threads 41 of a coupling nut 48. The coupling nut 48 is adapted to receive therein the end of the pipe 44 which is thereafter spun or otherwise formed outwardly as at 49 so that when the coupling nut is threaded on the ttin'g 45, the outwardly formed end 49 of the pipe 44 is clamped between the coupling nut and the fitting 45.

In thus coupling the silencer in communication with the outlet chamber 21 of the valve casing 25, the silencer 3| is arranged with its open side facing an upright wall of the flushing tank and with its longitudinal edge 33 above the marginal portion 34, and it is secured in this position by any suitable securing means 52. When so arranged, the cowl 32 and the wall 5| form a chamber 5|' for receiving the water from the perforated tube 31 and directing it toward a silencer outlet opening 5`2 adjacent the wall 5| at the lower side of the cowl 32. If desired, a slit rubber tube 53, or other suitable sealing means, is'

provided on the longitudinal edge 33 for sealingly engaging the wall 5I. 4

By providing the outlet chamber 21 laterally of the supply pipe I| and the angular arrangement between the tting 39 and the pipe 44, as described above, and as shown in Fig. 2, the direction of flow of the water from the supply pipe I to the silencer 3l is changed, thus retarding the water flow when the supply control valve I2 is opened, and cooperating with the frusto-conical fitting 39 and the perforated tube 31, which relieve the water pressure and which spread the water laterally before it is sprayed through the perforations 31' into the chamber 5|', to promote silent operation of the flushing tank.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 1 that the silencer is so assembled in the tank that the perforated tube 31 is located above the water 1. A silencer for flushing tanks level. The purpose of that arrangement is to minimize the tendency of water in the flushing tank to feed back into the supply system due to the suction effect which may occur at the large end of the frusto-conical fitting 39 when other flushing tanks or plumbing fixtures connected to the same supply system are operated or when the pressure in the supply pipe Il is otherwise reduced. That tendency to feed back is further minimized by so arranging, the perforations 3.1 in and about the tube 31 as to distribute the suction effect, whereby the arrangement of the tube and the perforations therein cooperate to prevent feeding back water from the tank into the supply system. v

During the flushing and refilling operations, the water from the outlet chamber 21 inthe valve casing` 25 has its velocity reduced. The water pressure is relieved as the water passes fromy the pipe 44 into the small end of the frusto-conical tube 39 and therefrom into the perforated vtube 31.' The perforations 31' break up the water into a spray and direct the spray against the tank wall 5| and the inclined wall portion 36 oi the cowl 32. The water directed against the inclined wall portion 36^flows theralong to the tank wall 5| and with the water directed against the tank wall passes through the silencer outlet opening 52' at the lower side of the cowl 32. The water from the silencer outlet opening 52' is thus spread laterally along the upright wall 5| and will silently run down the wall 5| into the flushing tank.

In order to prevent the noise caused by drops of water falling directly into the body of water in the flushing tank at the end of theA refilling operation, the silencer outlet opening 52' may be so formed and arranged that such drops of water are led or conducted to the tank wall 5| down which they may flow silently into the water in the tank. With that end in view, the marginal portion 34 of the cowl 32 is cut out or otherwise formed throughout its length, with a plurality of alternately arranged tips 54 and slots 55. The tips 54 are adapted forarrangement adjacent the tank wall 5| when the silencer is installed, as described above, whereby to provide paths along which the water in the cowl 32 may ow to the tank wall 5|. .If desired, as shown in Fig. 2, the slots 55 may be provided with inner edges or margins 56 of arcuate shape, whereby water from the inclined wall portion 36 of the cowl 32 will be led to the tips 54.

Thus, the silencer of the invention cooperates with a flushing tank member or wall for silently conducting water into the tank throughout the fiushing and refilling operations of the tank by providing a substantially sheet-like orillm-like discharge of water at such a. reduced velocity and pressure, and at such an angle to the tank member or wall, that the water discharged from the silencer runs quietly along the tank member into the tank, instead of falling against the bottom of the tank or into the water already in the tank during the refilling operations.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims. i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as Inew and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

comprising 'means for spreadingwater supplied from the supply, line of a flushing tank, means including a flushing tank member and an elongated casing having an open side adjacent the member and defining with the latter an elongated downwardly facing outlet for directing the spread of water into the flushing tank, and water spray having a water outlet substantially co-extensive in length with said casing and with a plurality of spaced water directing members at said outlet for directing water from said chamber into the flushing tank.

3. A silencer for connection with thesupply line of a flushing tank, comprising a casing provided With a Water. chamber therein having a water outlet substantially co-extensive in length with said casing and with a plurality of spaced water directing members at said outlet for cooperating with a flushing tank member to direct water from said chamber into the flushing tank.

4. In combination, a ushing tank having a flushing tank member extending above the normal water level therein, an inlet fitting adapted to change the direction of water flow and provided with an outlet chamber, a substantially frusto-conical tting having its smaller end communicating at an angle with said outlet chamber, an elongated perforated tube communicating with said frusta-conical iitting at the larger end thereof, and a casing having an open side adjacent said iiushing tank member above the normal water level, said casing carrying and closely surrounding a portion of said perforated tube and having an outlet adjacent said flushing tank member for discharging the water substantially tangentially downward along the tank member whereby said ilushing tank member and said casing cooperate as silencer means for water supplied to said flushing tank by said supply line.

5. In combination, a ushing tank having a flushing tank member extending above the normal water level therein, water spreading means communicating with the supply line of the flushing tank when the supply line is open and having a water outlet adjacent said flushing tank member above the water level, and means including a plurality of spaced apart members extending from said water spreading means into contact with the tank member for directing the water in said spreading means when the supply line is closed and water pressure reduced to said flushing tank member, whereby the water is led into said flushingtank.

6. A silencer for connection with the water supply of a ushing tank comprising a tting connected to the supply having a water outlet above the water level in the tank and adapted to spread and to direct substantially all oi' ythe water downwardly, and a plurality of' spaced apart water directing members at said outlet in contact with a part of the tank for preventing 7. A silencer for connection with-the water supply of a ilushing tank comprising a tting connected to the supply having a water outlet above the water level in the tank and adapted to the dripping of water from said outlet into the tank.

change the direction of water ijlow, means associated with said iitting for spreading the water, means for directing the spread water against a tank member at an acute angle whereby water is supplied to the tank in substantially noiseless fashion, said water directing means comprising a plurality of spaced apart members in contact with said tank member whereby water is conducted to the tank member and the dripping of water directly into the tank is prevented. 8. A silencer for flushing tanks, comprising water spraying means including -an elongated tube located above the normal water level within a flushing tank for dividing the water from the y supply line of the tank into a spray, and water directing means including a casing partially surrounding said tube and a flushing tank member having a portion thereof extending above the water level against which-the water is sprayed for directing the water into the flushing tank substantially 'tangentially to said portion, said casing including a plurality of spaced apart extensions located above the water level and in contact with said portion of the tank member for preventing dripping of the Water into the tank.

9. A silencer for ilushing tanks comprising a member having a portion extending above the normal water level within the tank, including in combination, water spraying means located above the normal water level within a flushing tank for dividing the water supplied thereto from a supply line into a spray, and water directing means located above the normal water level in the tank so .constructed and arrangedwith respect to said spraying means and portion of the ushing tank member that the water is directed downwardly into the tank substantially tangen-k tially to said portion.

10. A silencer for flushing tanks comprising a 4member having a portion extending above the normal water level within a tank and adapted tobe supplied with water from a supply line having an inlet valve therein, including in combination, means forspreading and discharging the water in athin sheet, communicating with the supply line when the inlet valve 1s open, said obtaining in the tank, thereby to prevent water feed back from the tank to the supply line under the influence of suction produced by low pressure conditions in the supply line, and means located above the water level in the tank and so constructed and located with respect to the said wa- A means being located above the normal water level ter spreading and discharging means and the portion oi the ushing tank member extending above the normal water level that s id sheet of water ilows substantially tangentially downward along said portion of the tank for conducting the water relatively noiselessly into the tank.

11. In combination, a flushing tank having a member with an upright portion extending above the normal water level in the tank, a supply line having an inlet valve therein, means adapted to change the direction offlow and -spread the vwater communicating with the supply .line when said valve is open, means for breaking the spread water into a plurality oi.' streams, and water discharging means located above the normal water level in the tank and so constructed and arranged with respect to the upright portion that substantially all the water is discharged into the tank in the form oi a sheet directed substantially tangentially downward along said upright portion. GEORGE H. MYRICK.4 

